iPad keyboard case - ultimate accessory?

The whole iPad versus netbook debate is starting to get old - I think all but the fanatics would concede that both devices have their place. iPads are handy for content consumption, yet netbooks are more practical for many content creation tasks. But what about strapping a keyboard to an iPad to mimic a netbook? Can iPad owners claim the best of both worlds, or are they just living in denial?

Let's take the Kensington KeyFolio Bluetooth Keyboard and Case for iPad for example, which retails for $US99. Pricing hasn't been released for Australia yet, but I'd say $AU119 is a conservative estimate considering the price difference between other Kensington iPad accessories in Australia and the US. The KeyFolio is certainly more practical for travel than Apple's $AU89 iPad keyboard and dock, which doesn't fold flat.

So you're spending at least $918 for the KeyFolio plus the entry level wifi+3G iPad. To be honest I think you'd be better off with a wifi-only iPad and putting the $170 saving towards a 3G mobile hotspot, but that's a debate for another day. The KeyFolio weighs in at 566 grams so, combined with with wifi+3G iPad, you've got an extra 1.3 kg in your bag. The KeyFolio is also roughly the same dimensions an a 10-inch netbook, but probably a little thicker at 50.8 mm (2 inches).

So if I went to a computer shop with $918 in my pocket, what else could I buy? Dell's 10-inch Inspiron netbooks start at $469 and weigh in at 1.5kg, but for $799 I could get a top of the line Inspiron Mini 101z which also weighs in at 1.5 kg yet features an 11.6-inch display and an AMD dual core processor. Meanwhile you'll find the Asus 1000HD Eee PC for around $500, but for $799 the Asus T101MT is an impressive Windows 7 netbook with a keyboard which swivels and folds behind the display to create a tablet. While you're window shopping, it's worth checking out the netbook offerings from MSI, HP, Kogan and others.

Like I said, the iPad versus netbook debate is getting old. Personally I'm not that taken by Apple's wundertablet, I've had mine for almost six months and I barely touch it. Even so, I can understand why it suits some people. Yet once you bring the bulk, weight, cost and battery drain of a wireless keyboard case into the equation, the iPad's value proposition starts to falter. These are most of the reasons why an iPad is supposedly better than a netbook. Take them out of the picture and it basically comes down to asking whether you can make do with a netbook that runs iOS or whether you need a full-blown desktop operating system.

If you'd only use the KeyFolio occasionally, such as travelling for work, then it might be a smart investment if you already own an iPad - assuming you can run all the apps you need and survive without your desktop computer for a day. The longer you were away from the office, the more likely you'd be to feel the iPad's limitations. Perhaps you could cheat and use LogMeIn or Parallels to remotely access the computer on your desk for some tasks. The KeyFolio might also be handy for getting some work done during the daily commute between your office and home computers, easily switching between work and play. Unfortunately the KeyFolio isn't very practical for sitting on your lap because there's no hinge to allow you to adjust the angle of the screen, but you could probably cobble together a solution.

If you're after an iPad which occasionally mimics a netbook, the KeyFolio makes a lot of sense. You are however conceding that the iPad's onscreen keyboard isn't a true substitute for a physical keyboard - a concession some fanboys weren't prepared to make when the iPad was first released. Yet if you're after a full netbook replacement then you'll probably still be frustrated by the iPad's limitations, even with the keyboard.